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Getting your tax refund

When and how can I be refunded?

  • Am I entitled to a tax refund or do I have to pay additional tax?

    You have not yet received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note), but would like to know now whether you should expect to pay additional tax or receive a tax refund? At the moment, two of our tools can help you find out:

    • If you have been sent a proposed simplified return from us or if you use Tax-on-web to submit your tax return, you can immediately get an estimate of the amount of your tax.
    • You can also obtain this estimate anonymously through Tax-Calc.

    However, you will only find the final amount you will have to pay or be refunded in your tax assessment notice.

  • When will I receive my tax refund?

    You have submitted your tax return and would like to know when you will receive your refund? The date of your refund depends on the date on which you receive your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note).

    Please note: do not mistake the tax assessment notice for the proposed simplified return (a pre-filled tax return based on the information we know about your situation so that you do not have to fill in a tax return yourself). Whether your proposed simplified return (or your ordinary return) is still being processed or whether your tax assessment notice is already available, you can keep track of it on the MyMinfin platform, under the heading “Ma déclaration/My return - Ma proposition de déclaration simplifiée/My proposed simplified return”. As soon as the tax assessment notice is ready, you will find it, like your previous tax assessment notices, under the heading “Mes documents/My documents” of MyMinfin.

    You still haven’t received your tax assessment notice

    Therefore, it is normal that you haven’t yet obtained any refund. We can only refund you once we have converted your tax return (or your proposed simplified return) into a tax assessment notice. We have until June 30th 2024 (for income of 2022) to do that. You will receive the refund two months after the tax assessment notice (so August 31st 2024 at the latest).

    In the meantime, don't forget to check that your bank account number is correct on MyMinfin and to give us your bank account number if necessary.

    You have already received your tax assessment notice

    The month in which we will reimburse you is mentioned on your tax assessment notice (not to be mistaken for a proposed simplified return).

    We will refund on the following dates:

    August 2024 Thursday, 31.10.2024
    September 2024 Friday, 29.11.2024
    October 2024 Tuesday, 31.12.2024
    November 2024 Friday, 31.01.2025
    December 2024 Friday, 28.02.2025
    January 2025 Monday, 31.03.2025
    February 2025 Wednesday, 30.04.2025
    March 2025 Friday, 30.05.2025
    April 2025 Monday, 30.06.2025
    May 2025 Thursday, 31.07.2025
    June 2025 Friday, 29.08.2025
    July 2025 Tuesday, 30.09.2025

    Please bear in mind that it may take several days before the refund is present on your bank account.

  • Can I get my tax refund sooner than expected?

    No, we cannot refund your taxes sooner than expected.

  • Why haven’t I received my tax refund on time?

    You will receive a tax refund on time if you receive it by the end of the second month after you receive your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note). Example: if you receive your tax assessment notice on January 15th 2021, you should receive your tax refund by March 31st 2021. 

    Did you receive your tax assessment notice more than two months ago and you haven’t yet received your tax refund? Here are some of the reasons why you may not receive your tax refund on time.

    You mentioned a wrong bank account number

    We have refunded you on the wrong bank account number:

    • incorrectly entered bank account number
    • Bank account number not updated

    Find out how to communicate or change your bank account number in order to receive your tax refund.

    The FPS Finance lacks information on my situation for a timely tax refund

    In order to be able to make a tax refund in time, we sometimes need additional information. This is the case, for example, if:

    I have debts to other public authorities

    If you have additional debts to other public authorities, we can withhold all or part of your tax refund in order to clear your debts. If this is the case, we will send you a letter outlining your situation and the action we have taken to remedy it. A contact point is always mentioned on the letter.

    A third party objects to my tax refund

    If, for example, you have granted a transfer of your taxes or if a creditor has seized your taxes, it is possible that this person is opposed to your tax refund. Find out how to be refunded when you are in collective debt settlement.

  • How will I receive my tax refund?

    You are entitled to a tax refund and would like to know how you will receive it? It all depends on whether we know your bank account number or not.

    You can find out on your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note) how the amount due to you will be refunded.

    • If we know your bank account number, we will make the refund by means of a bank transfer to this account number.
    • If we do not know your account number, we will send you a postal money order.

    If you are married or legally cohabiting, the bank account number last communicated to us will appear on your tax assessment notice.

    Please note:

  • How can I know my share in case of tax refund if the tax assessment notice has been established in both names?

    You have received your tax assessment notice (or tax calculation notice) and you want to know the share of the tax refund you are entitled to?

    In case of a de facto separation, a few days after your tax assessment notice has been sent, we will send you automatically the information about the share which has been allocated to the share which has been allocated to you.

    If you want to obtain this calculation as an indication (since you are in a relationship), you can submit the request to your Infocenter as from the time you have received your tax assessment notice;

    • via our contact form (FR - NL - DE), by clicking on « Toutes les questions relatives aux impôts, paiements et remboursements » (every question about taxes, payments and refunds) and « Je dois être remboursé(e) » (I’m entitled to a refund) ;
    • By phone at 02/572 57 57, by entering the code “19353 (NL)”.

    We will not send you by mail a document mentioning information about your legal shares.

    After having received the information about your share, if you have questions about:

    • The calculation: you can get in touch with the « Calcul » (calculation) department (mentioned in the second page of your tax assessment notice)
    • The refund: you can call us at 02/572 57 57, by entering the code “19351 (NL)”.

Changing my bank account number

  • How must I indicate or change my bank account number?

    In order to be able to refund you quickly and securely, it is essential to update your bank account with the FPS Finance. There are three possible procedures for communicating your (new) account number to us. These are listed below in order of security and efficiency:

    1. Online on MyMinfin.be

    The easiest and quickest way is to carry it out via MyMinfin.

    Change your bank account number through MyMinfin.be

    Need help? See how to proceed by watching this video tutorial or by reading our explanation below:

    • Log in using your identity card (eID), the “itsme” application or another digital key.
    • Select “Connexion en nom propre/Login in your own name” and click “Next”.
    • Click on “Modifier mon numéro de compte/Change my bank account number” under “Mes paiements et remboursements/My payments and refunds”.
    • Click on “Modifier les données/Change the data”.
    • Fill in the data of your new bank account (IBAN and BIC) and click on “Confirmez vos données saisies/Confirm your entered data”.

    Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, we will settle your joint refund to the account number mentioned in the assessment notice, unless you or your partner communicate a new account number after the date of sending the assessment notice and before the 10th of the month of your refund. For example, for a sending on 14/09/2022, the last account number entered between 14/09/2022 and 10/11/2022 will be used, (and the refund will be paid on 30/11/2022).

    2. Via our secure general contact form

    You do not have access to our computer applications and need our help to enter your bank account number for you? There are two possibilities.

    2.1. Paper form received with your tax assessment notice

    If you have received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice) mentioning a refund and your bank account number is not included in our database in your name, you will find a paper form to fill in. 

    • Fill in all the data on the form attached to your tax assessment notice and do not forget to mention the article number of your tax assessment (see the grey box at the top right of your tax assessment notice) and your IBAN account number. 
    • Sign it.
    • Upload this paper form and any necessary annex via our secure general contact form before the 5th of the month of your refund. If, for instance, your tax assessment notice mentions a refund date on August 30th 2022, you must transmit us the form before August 5th 2022 in order to receive this refund on the account number you want to communicate to us.

    2.2. Online contact form

    If you want to inform us of a change in your bank account (and you have not received the form attached to your tax assessment notice), you can send us your bank details via our secure general contact form, by filling in the required fields and:

    • by uploading a necessary proof of your identity (preferably a copy of your identity card or possibly your driving licence or bank card or even your passport)
    • by adding a copy of your signature as an annex 
    • by specifying in the box “Formulez ici votre question/Ask your question here”: “Demande d’introduction d’un compte bancaire dans la base de données du SPF Finances/Request for entering a bank account into the FPS Finance database”.

    Please note: no bank details will be entered into our database without proof of identity.

    Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, your partner must also submit an application via a contact form in their name. Bank details must be entered per citizen and under no circumstances may data be entered on a single form for several citizens. 

    3. By post

    Warning! Processing bank details by post takes longer and is less secure.

    Besides, if we are unable to process your mail in time, your refund might be delayed. 

    3.1. Paper form received with your tax assessment notice

    If you have received your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice), which mentions a refund, and we do not have a bank account number in our database for you, you will also find a form to fill in.

    • Fill in all the data on the form attached to your tax assessment notice. Do not forget to mention the article number of your tax assessment (see the grey box at the top right of your tax assessment notice) and your IBAN account number. 
    • Sign it
    • Send the form to the following address before the 20th of the month preceding the month of your refund: 

                      Infocenter SPF Finances

                      Avenue Prince de Liège (JB) 133, boîte 126

                      5100 Namur

    If, for instance, your tax assessment notice mentions a refund date on August 30th 2022, you must transmit us the form before July 20th 2022 in order to receive this refund on the new account number you  communicated to us. 

    3.2. Letter to be sent

    If you want to inform us of a change in your bank account (and you have not received the form attached to your tax assessment notice), you can send your bank details to the following address: 

                      Infocenter SPF Finances

                      Avenue Prince de Liège (JB) 133, boîte 126

                      5100 Namur

    Include with your letter:

    • Your full bank details
    • Your national register number
    • Your signature
    • A proof of your identity (preferably a copy of your identity card or driving licence or bank card or passport).

    Warning: no bank details will be entered into our database without proof of identity. 

    Please note: if you are married or legally cohabiting, your partner must also sign the application for entering a bank account, specifying that the bank account is also in their name and attaching a copy of their identity document. Entering bank details is carried out per citizen and in no case, entering the data will be done in our database if the application is not complete. 


    IN SUMMARY, DEADLINES FOR CHANGING YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER DEPENDING ON THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION CHOSEN

    MyMinfin 5th of the month of refund
    Contact form 5th of the month of refund
    Post mail 20th of the month preceding the refund
  • How much time do I have to change my account number after I receive my tax assessment notice?

    You have received your tax assessment notice and noticed that the bank account number mentioned is not correct?

    In that case you need to indicate your modified bank account number before the 5th of the month of your tax refund. This date will also appear on your tax assessment notice.

  • I have received a letter asking me to give my bank account number, is this reliable?

    You receive a letter asking you to give your account number, but you think it might be a fraud?

    Read about the secure ways to give us your bank account number.

Being refunded by postal money order

  • I have received my tax refund by money postal order; How long is it valid and how can I collect it?

    You received your tax refund by postal money order (cheque) and you don't know how to collect it?

    In order to collect your postal money order, you must go to a post office. You must do so within three months of the date of issue of your postal money order; the date of issue appears on the postal money order. The post office will give you your refund in cash.

    What to do if my postal money order is no longer valid?

    If your postal money order is no longer valid, you should then contact us.

  • What should I do if I have not received or if I have lost the postal money order for my tax refund?

    You were supposed to receive your tax refund by postal money order (cheque), but you didn't receive your postal money order by the due date?

    Keep in mind that it is sent on a non-priority basis and that its delivery may be delayed by a few days. You still haven't received it a few days later? Then you have two options:

    1. Provide us with your account number and contact us to let us know that you wish to receive your refund by bank transfer.

    Ask for a duplicate of your postal money order to bpost bank.

  • What should I do if I prefer not to receive my tax refund by postal money order?

    If it is mentioned on your tax assessment notice that your tax refund will be paid by postal money order, it is because we do not know your bank account number.

    Please provide us quickly with your bank account number. Please note that you must do so before the 20th of the month following receipt of the tax assessment notice. This final date will also appear on the tax assessment notice. See how you can communicate your bank account number.

  • What should I do when my postal money order is no longer valid?

    The deadline for collecting a postal money order is three months from the date of issue. This is mentioned in the postal money order.

    Has the period of validity expired? Bpost will return the money to us. Please provide us with your bank account number and we will ensure that you are refunded as soon as possible.

  • What should I do when I receive a postal money order on behalf of a deceased person and the post office does not want to pay?

    As an heir, have you received a postal money order (a cheque) in the name of a deceased person and you wish to collect it?

    If so, send us a document, in which you indicate:

    • The article number of the assessment (see top of the second page of the postal money order)
    • your relationship to the deceased person
    • Your IBAN account number
    • a copy of your identity card
    • Your signature

    Send us the document to the following address:

    SPF Finances - AGPR Team Remboursements
    Avenue du Prince de Liège 133 - boîte 299
    5100 Jambes

Being refunded if I am in debt

  • Will I receive my tax refund if I still have debts with the public authorities?

    According to your tax assessment notice (tax calculation note), you are entitled to a tax refund, but you also have debts with public authorities.

    In most cases, you will then not receive, or only part of, your refund. We withhold the part of your refund that is necessary to pay your debt. If you are concerned by this situation, we will inform you.

  • If I am concerned by a collective debt settlement, will I still receive my tax refund?

    If you are concerned by a collective debt settlement, we will carry out your tax refund to your debt ombudsman.

  • Do I still receive my refund if someone has seized it?

    You are entitled to a tax refund, but a creditor has seized it?

    Your creditor can then oblige us to withhold your refund. In this case, the creditor will inform you. We must then hand over your entire refund to the bailiff, who will use it to settle your debts. If there is any amount left over after this debt settlement, it will of course be paid to you.

    What to do if I have several creditors?

    In the event of a seizure, we will hand over the entire refund to the bailiff. The bailiff will then distribute your reimbursement to the creditors, taking into account any privileges they may have: certain types of debt (such as social security contributions or withholding tax on movable property) have priority over other debts and must be refunded first.

  • Will I still get my refund if I authorise a transfer of my refund?

    You are entitled to a tax refund, but you have an agreement with a creditor to transfer your tax refund?

    Your creditor can then obligeus to withhold your refund. If we receive a transfer or a seizure of debt, the creditor will inform you. We must then give your refund (or part of it) to your creditor who will use it to pay off your debts. If there is any amount left over after the payment of your creditor(s), it will of course be paid to you.

    What to do if I have several creditors?

    If we receive a transfer of claims from several creditors, we will first take into account the debts of the creditor from whom we first received a transfer application as regards the use of your tax refund. As soon as this debt has been paid in full, we will assign the remaining amount of your refund to the second creditor, and so on.

  • Where can I find an overview of the transfers and seizures on my refunds?

    You can find an overview of your transfers and seizures online on the MyMinfin platform.

    Check the overview of transfers and seizures on MyMinfin.be

    You will also find the amount for which the transfer or seizure was made, but this is not necessarily the current balance of your debt. If you want to know the current balance of your debt, you should contact the creditor.

  • How can I suspend a transfer or seizure of my tax refund?

    You have not, or only partially, received your tax refund because of a transfer or seizure that you contest?

    Only the creditor can stop or suspend the transfer of claims. You should then get in touch with them. Please note that a telephone call, e-mail or registered letter sent to our services is not sufficient to contest an assignment or seizure.

Being refunded after divorce

To which part of the tax refund am I entitled to and what do I have to do in order to obtain my part when separation de facto has been carried out?

You and your former partner are entitled to a tax refund for the year of your separation de facto, but you do not know how you can receive this refund?

For the year of your separation de facto, we will send you and your former partner a tax assessment notice (tax calculation). If you and your former partner are entitled to a tax refund for that year, we will allocate it on the basis of the income you received during that year.

We will notify you of this allocation by letter. In the letter, we will also ask you to confirm your bank account number or give us a new number by means of the enclosed form. You send this form to your Team Perception (tax collection). You will find the contact details of the Collection Team (Team Perception) in our office guide (select the heading “Remboursements d'impôt et de TVA/Tax and VAT refunds” and enter your municipality). You will then receive your tax refund via your bank account or a postal money order (if we do not know your bank account number).

You have not received a letter?

Please contact immediately your Collection Team (Team Perception).

Reimbursement after decease

  • What do I have to do to receive my share of my deceased spouse's tax refund?

    Each spouse has a share in a joint taxation. This is the breakdown defined by the General Administration of Taxation (AGFISC) between the spouses after the tax has been calculated.

    In principle, both shares, i.e. the entire repayment, will be paid to the surviving spouse, on the account mentioned on the Tax Assessment Notice. No action is required on your part. You should, however, check this account and change it if it is closed or if you do not have access to it. You can change your bank account number via MyMinFin.be. For more information, see this page.

    However, the debts of the surviving spouse and those of the deceased that we are responsible for recovering will be deducted from this amount.

    In some specific cases only, you will be contacted by our services when the refund is being processed, i.e. after the Tax Assessment Notice has been sent. In these cases, it will be essential to return the completed letter and any enclosures requested within the indicated time frame, to prevent a longer refund period.

  • What do I have to do to receive my share of the tax refund from my deceased (legal) cohabiting partner?

    Each partner has a share in a joint taxation. This is the breakdown defined by the General Administration of Taxation (AGFISC)  between the spouses following the tax calculation.

    Your own share will be paid to you, after deduction of any debts you might have. Make sure, however, that you have access to the bank account mentioned on the Tax Assessment Notice for reimbursement. You can change your account number via MyMinFin.be. For more information, see this page.

    In the event of legal cohabitation, you do not automatically inherit from your deceased partner. Your partner must have drawn up a will in your favor.

    Our administration could get access to these wills, but you can send us a copy to too, addressed to the Collection Team once you have received your Tax Assessment Notice.

    If there is no will in your favor, the legal heirs will be reimbursed.

  • What should I do in other cases? I am the heir of a deceased person that is entitled to a refund?

    Our services will look for the heirs and their shares in the estate.

    Each heir will be paid on their own bank account, according to their share of the estate. Payments are made, taking into account:

    1. Debts of the deceased.
    2. Debts owed by the heir (each for his or her share: we do not offset the share of one heir against the debts of another heir).

    We will only contact you in specific cases. You don’t need to do anything, apart from checking if your bank account is known by the Tax Administration, please check via the MyMinFin.be platform. For more information, see this page.

Being refunded in a foreign country

  • What do I need to do to make sure I receive my tax refund if I am moving to a foreign country?

    Are you moving to a foreign country in the near future and you want to be sure to receive your refund? Then communicate your (Belgian or foreign) bank account number now.

    If we do not know your bank account number at the time of payment of your refund, the payment will not take place: we do not pay via an international postal money order because we want to avoid charges to your disadvantage. It is therefore very important that you check whether your tax assessment notice mentions the correct bank account number.

    Also inform the population service of the municipality where you live now of your full address abroad. This way, your foreign address will also become your official address in the Belgian national register. We always send all documents (such as your tax return form and tax assessment notice to that address.

  • What do I have to do to settle my situation when I live in a foreign country and I don't have a Belgian bank account number?

    You are entitled to a tax refund and are wondering whether we can pay it into your foreign bank account number?

    That’s possible. If we already know this number, it will also appear on your tax assessment notice (tax calculation notice). 

    What should I do if my bank account number does not appear on my tax assessment notice?

    Please give us the following data:

    • IBAN:
    • BIC:
    • Owner of the bank account:
    • Name of the bank establishment:
    • For some countries, such as the United States of America, the “routing code” of your bank.

    Send us these data via the contact form:

    • To the question “Quel est le sujet de la question ?/What is the question about?” choose “Toutes les questions relatives aux impôts, paiements et remboursements/All questions relating to taxes, payments and refunds”.
    • To the question “Il s’agit de ?/What is it about?” select “Paiement ou remboursement/Payment or refund” in the drop-down menu.

    Bear in mind that it may take several weeks before you receive your tax refund.

    And if the FPS Finance does not know your bank account number?

    If we do not know your bank account number at the time we want to make your refund, the payment will be blocked. We do not pay by international postal money order, as we want to avoid charges to your disadvantage. It is therefore important that you check whether your tax assessment notice mentions the correct bank account number.

  • Which currency does the FPS Finance use in order to pay amounts?

    The FPS Finance always pays amounts in Euro.

Moratorium interest

What is the moratorium interest?

You have contested the calculation of your taxes and won? Then you may be entitled to moratorium interest.

This is interest that we have to pay you on the amount that you overpaid or that you should have received earlier. You may receive moratorium interest on:

  • overpaid taxes
  • withholding taxes
  • advance payments
  • Late interest
  • Tax increases
  • Administrative fines

Which is the rate of moratorium interest?

This can change each year: it is the rate set for late interest minus two per cent. For example, the rate for income earned in 2019 is two per cent.

Am I entitled to it?

You are entitled to it if you have overpaid taxes recovered higher than a specific amount:

This amount can change each year. For income earned in 2019, for example, we only charge moratorium interest on amounts of at least 3,000 EUR.

How do I claim it?

By sending the FPS Finance a formal notice. This can vary: either a summons by simple letter, a complaint or a court summons.

Asking a question about being refunded

How can I ask a question about being reimbursed?

Call us

Every working day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 02 572 57 57 (normal rate).

Send us an email

By means of a contact form:

  • Under "Quel est le sujet de votre question/What is the subject of your question", choose "Toutes les questions relatives aux impôts, paiements et remboursements/All questions about taxes, payments and refunds".
  • Under the question "Il s'agit de?/What is it about?", select "Paiement ou remboursement/Payment or refund" from the drop-down menu.